Abstract
BackgroundChildhood illnesses and mortality rates have declined over the past years in sub-Saharan African countries; however, under-five mortality is still high in the region. This study investigated the magnitude and factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with childhood illnesses in 24 sub-Saharan African countries.MethodsWe used secondary data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) conducted between 2013 and 2018 across the 24 sub-Saharan African countries. Binary logistic regression models were applied to identify the factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with acute childhood illnesses. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsOverall, 45% of children under-5 years with acute childhood illnesses utilized health care facilities. The factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with acute illnesses were sex of child, number of living children, education, work status, wealth index, exposure to media and distance to a health facility.ConclusionsOver half of mothers did not seek appropriate health care for under-five childhood illnesses. Effective health policy interventions are needed to enhance health care seeking behaviour of mothers for childhood illnesses in sub-Saharan African countries.
Highlights
Childhood illnesses and mortality rates have declined over the past years in sub-Saharan African countries; under-five mortality is still high in the region
The findings showed that the odds of health care service utilization for childhood illnesses were significantly higher among mothers with male children compared to mothers with female children
This study investigated the predictors of health care service seeking behaviour among mothers for childhood illnesses in sub-Saharan African countries
Summary
Childhood illnesses and mortality rates have declined over the past years in sub-Saharan African countries; under-five mortality is still high in the region. This study investigated the magnitude and factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for children with childhood illnesses in 24 sub-Saharan African countries. Childhood illnesses such as fever, diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI) are serious child health issues in low income countries [1, 2]. In 2015, about 5.9 million under five children died due to preventable causes [1, 3,4,5], and approximately three out of every four under-five deaths occur due to ARI, diarrhea and fever [1, 6] This phenomenon is more pronounced in low-income. Prompt and adequate health care seeking behaviour interventions among mothers can substantially reduce childhood mortality due to childhood illnesses in low-income and middle-income countries [10]
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